Rhythm Tech RT7600 “The Laptop” snare drum
Rhythm Tech RT7600 snare drum
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
As the drummer for The Grape Ape Trust, and as the unofficial house percussionist at the First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, I’ve taken a new interest in collecting percussion instruments that would be appropriate in different settings and arrangements. A full drum kit is large, takes a lot of time to set up, and can be overwhelming in some musical arrangements. Hand percussion like bongos, cajones, and congas offer a lighter touch but might also be more than the piece or the venue call for.
A simple snare drum is actually a very versatile percussion instrument. Played with sticks, it can be perfect for a march or a lively folk or bluegrass piece. Played with brushes, it offers a lighter touch for jazz, acoustic blues, or just about any rock or country piece in a stripped-down arrangement. But a full-size snare can be persnickety, too: changes in temperature or humidity can throw off the tuning, the metal snares at the bottom of the drum need constant adjustment, and a snare drum on a stand can be rather precarious as people come and go from the stage.
Enter: the RhythmTech Laptop Snare. The Laptop simplifies the snare drum by eliminating the shell, which in turn eliminates the tuning and snare adjustment headaches. It also makes for a much lighter instrument which can be played on a snare stand, or as the name suggests, on your lap.
The design is brilliant: a single drum head with a rigid aluminum outer ring. The ring maintains a low, constant tension on the head and the snares to keep them relatively taught. The snares, which would normally lie under the resonant head, now rest right under the batter head. A plastic sheath covers the snares so they’re not muffled by your stand or your pantleg.
I first saw The Laptop at the Des Moines Science Fiction Convention (DemiCon) in 2010. I was there to accompany Grape Ape Trust guitarist Bryan Baker on my then-new cajon, when our mutual friend Eric Coleman showed us his new lap snare. I played on it for a couple of minutes and immediately realized how useful it could be. By watching carefully on Amazon.com, I was able to buy a like-new one for $40 shipped, less than half the MSRP of $90.
The Laptop snare comes with a cloth gig bag, which even has a pocket for a pair of sticks or brushes. Throw the bag over your shoulder and you’re off to your gig. One nifty thing I’ve discovered is that the Laptop and bag fit in the empty space under my Fender El Rio in its guitar case. I can carry the guitar, a digital tuner, my lap snare and a pair of brushes with one hand. I’m a self-contained band in a single case. It’s been a part of my standard open-mic setup for several months now.
Photo by Bryan Baker